Compare Rates for Missouri Car Insurance

Missouri Car Insurance Guide

Missouri’s generally a pretty cheap state for car insurance — but are you getting the best deal and the right coverage? There’s only one way to find out: comparing personalized quotes. Start here to get your own free quotes, or keep reading as we guide you through the process.

What are Missouri’s Auto Insurance Requirements?

Missouri drivers are required to carry certain levels of liability coverage — that’s the part of insurance that pays for other people’s injuries and property damage when you’re at fault in an accident. You also need to carry uninsured motorist coverage, which protects you and your passengers when an uninsured person hits you. The minimum auto insurance requirements for Missouri are 25/50/10. In other words:

Compare.com makes it easy. First, enter some basic info about where you live, what you drive, etc. Then, pick one of four levels of coverage: state minimum, Basic, Plus or Premium. If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest Missouri car insurance, choose State Minimum coverage to start with. We’ll show you quotes from different companies for a policy that meets the 25/50/10 requirements, and then you can select the cheapest.

Wait — Do I Need More than Missouri State Minimum Insurance?

That depends. We’re so helpful, right?

The reason you have liability insurance is to protect yourself from financial loss. If you don’t have a lot of assets to protect, such as a house or a nice savings account, then you may be OK with the minimum insurance.

However, it’s a good idea to carry more, of you can afford it. The average auto liability claim for property damage was $3,231 (in 2013), and the average auto liability claim for bodily injury was $15,443. That falls well under the Missouri state minimum. But that’s just an average; if you’re at fault in a crash that causes serious injuries, major property damage or death, you could be sued for hundreds of thousands of dollars — or more. In Missouri, if you’re at fault in an accident and you don’t pay for the damages, your driver license and/or license plates will be suspended for one year.

How Do I Find Cheap Missouri Insurance that Gives Me Enough Coverage?

The best way to find cheap insurance that still protects your assets is to start with the lowest quotes and gradually increase your coverage, until you find a level you’re happy with. Compare.com makes it easy.

We ran the numbers for a 27-year-old woman who’s shopping for auto insurance in Springfield, Mo. She has a good driving record and drives a three-year-old Corolla. Her best quote for 25/50/10 state minimum coverage: $56 per month when she opted to pay her premiums up front (which means avoiding a down payment plus installment fees).

That’s pretty cheap car insurance for Missouri! However, because our Springfield driver drives a newer car, she really needs collision and comprehensive coverage. Basic coverage gives her both, with a $1,000 deductible. Now, her best quote is $106 per month.

Then, she remembers the time her cousin crashed into another driver and was sued for $100,000. He had to file bankruptcy. So she ups her coverage to the Plus level, which increases bodily injury and property damage liability to 50/100/50, with the same limits for uninsured motorist liability. It also adds 50/100 underinsured motorist liability, drops the collision/comprehensive deductible to $500 and adds towing and rental car coverage. Now her best quote is $124 per month.

Now that she knows her options, she can choose the best insurance that fits her budget.

I Can’t Afford Missouri Car Insurance. What happens if I Drive Without Insurance?

Driving uninsured may seem like a small crime, but it can land you in a lot of trouble. If police stop you and discover you’re driving uninsured, they’ll ticket you. A conviction means four points on your license, which can drive your car insurance rates up — and in Missouri, it only takes eight points to lose your license. The court may enter an order of supervision, which means the state will be watching you to make sure you stay insured. Or, you may get your license suspended.

If it’s your first offense, the license suspension isn’t too bad — it’s only for zero days, which means you pay a $20 reinstatement fee, show proof you’re insured and get your license back. But for your second offense, the suspension period is 90 days, and you have to pay $200; a third offense is one year’s suspension and $400.

Long story short, it’s much cheaper (and smarter) to carry insurance than to be caught without it! If you’re having trouble finding Missouri insurance you can afford, Compare.com is here to help. We’ll show you free, personalized quotes from Missouri car insurance companies so you can choose the one that fits your budget. Get started now.